Differential pinion gauge



May 17, 19 38. A. E. PRICE DIFFERENTIAL PINION GAUGE Filed Aug. 17, 1936 INVENTOR. Price Patented May 17, 1938 r 2,117,854

um'reo STATES PATENT osrlcr.

. 2,117,854 DIFFERENTIAL PINION GAUGE Arthur E. Price, Jackson, Mich, assigncr to Hincklcy-Myers Company, Jackson, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application August 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,339 4 Claims. (01. 33-469) This invention relates to an improved auto- Whether it is the one that should be occupied mobile rear axle pinion setting device or gauge. by the pinion in the particular assembly accord- An object is to provide a gauge of the characing to the specifications of the manufacturer. ter described whereby the exact position of the The gauge comprises a body portion indicated 5 pinion of a rear axle assembly such as is progenerally as H]. Each end of this body portion vided in automobiles and trucks, as compared is of a cylindrical shape as indicated at 12 and with the proper intended position of the pinion is ground to a true circumference. Mounted upon in such assembly, may be quickly determined and each end portion 12 is a disc cluster M. This any variation between such proper intended podisc cluster comprises a plurality 0f diScS- y in sitioh and the position occupied by the pinion r h r h wn as j n d in ne p e, h lus r may be readily determined. being ground to provide the plurality of disc faces Another object is to provide a simple, inexpenas indicated at l6, l8, and 20. These discs are sive accurate measuring instrument adapted t of different diameter as shown. These diameters afford a quick and positive method of doterare determined by the diameter of the bearings 15 mining exactly the required adjustment Of t in the differential casings of the different models 15 pinion gear with respect to the ring gear of an of t With Which y are 110 be u d A automobile ora truck rear axle drive assembly disc cluster as a whole is slidable lengthwise upon in order to provide the proper running condition end portion 0f the bcdy- A Shall) ring 22 y a t noise and t t weer, be employed to prevent the disc cluster from an In repair or replacement f diff r tial assemaccidentally slipping off the end portion l2 of the bly operating parts it is customary to remove the bodydifferential assembly from the housing. The The measul'mg instrument Which I prefer o pinion is adjusted accurately with respect to the employ is a micrometer s c It s a stem ring gear by means of shim or the hke It is portion 24 adapted to be projected and withdrawn customary for the manufacturer to have a set by on of a gripping handle 28. The mi- 25 point or mating point of the ring gear with crometer is provided with indicating figures and Shoot t t pinion d to indicate permissible lines 28 of standard construction to measure any variation from Said true Seating. This improved minute advancements or withdrawals of the stem gauge is adapted to indicate whether the pinion in a manner Which s W l understood. an is properly positioned with respect to t ring The central portion of the body element I0 is 30 gear and if such pinion requires adjustment to cut away as at 39 and iS ape tured to receive the indicate the exact adjustment required to insure y cf the micrcmetel therethrcugh aS how proper mating of the pinion with the ring gear. in A pin 32 y be p y to 100k The tool is adaptable to different models of the micrometer gauge in p s on- Numeral 34 cars as hereinafter described and mechanism is indicates a plate Which y e Secu ed t0 the 35 provided to insure the obtaining of this result. body element In and which may carry instruc- Other objects, advantages, and meritorious featicnS as to Operation of t e device. tures 111 more fully appear from t following In operation the differential gearing is removed specification, appended claims, and accompanyas heretofore Set forth and my improved gauge 4!) ing drawing, wherein: v is dropped into position as shown in Fig. 1 with Figure 1 is sectional iew through d ff the proper disc seated in semi-circular bearings ential casing member showing my improved 36 of the differential casing. Due to variation in gauge i u different models of course the same disc will not Fig, 2 i an elevation of my improved gauge be adaptable to the bearing of each model and partly broken away, and a plurality of discs are provided so that the disc Fig. 3 is an elevation of a fragment of the Which Supports the y may b Seated cmlgly gauge structure, Within the bearing t0 POSitiOIl the body Of the This improved gauge is employed to determine gauge accurately h r pect to the axis of the the position of the drive pinion with respect to bearingthe ring gear in a, difierential drive uch as is The plate 34 which is shown in detail in Fig. 3 50 used in motor vehicles. To accomplish this the m y carry instructions In such fi r i will differential gears are removed from the casing. app that Of the particular yp cf in q e If a new pinion is to be inserted such pinion is tion model 80. f the year 1936 will require a zero dropped into position. The pinion setting gauge setting of the gauge for accurate position of the is then employed to determine this position and pinion. On the other hand, model 50 of the 55 years 1930-1932, inclusive, would require a .649 with the smallest disc nearest the outer end of setting. When the gauge is dropped in place the body element and the largest disc nearest the and the stem of the micrometer is projected center of the body element, a measuring instruagainst the end face thereof as shown in Fig. 1 ment carried by said body element and disposed the extent to which it varies from the proper between the discs, said measuring instrument inshims or the like the pinion may be adjusted to jected and withdrawn radially of the discs with its proper position for accurate mating with the respect to the body element. ring gear, which ring gear is shown in dotted line 3. A gauge of the character described comcuracy.

What I claim is: ing a member adapted to be adjustably projected 1. A gauge of the character described comprisand withdrawn with respect to the body element a body element, opposite ends of said eleand perpendicularly to the axis of said discs. ment being provided with a corresponding series A a- O th a te des r bed 0 1- of circular discs of difierent diameter, the discs prising, in combination, a central body element, of each series of discs arranged in order of their cylindrical elements disposed coaxially on oppodiameter with the smallest disc nearest the outer site sides of said central element, a gauging memend of the body element and the largest disc ber carried by said central body element and supand disposed between said discs, said measuring drical element slidably carrying a series of discs instrument including a part adapted to be adof difierent diameter, said series of discs correjustably projected and withdrawn radially of said sponding to each other and arranged on the cydiscs with respect to the body element. lindrical elements in order of their diameters A gauge 0 the Character des ribed comwith the disc of each series having the largest pris dy e eme Opposite ends of said elediameter nearest the central body element, and ment ea h pr v d w a r sp n in ri means connecting the discs of each series toof circular discs of different diameter adjustable gether for joint slidable movement on its respeclengthwise of the body element, the discs of each ti e cylindrical element as a unit, series of discs arranged in order of their diameter ARTHUR, E, PRI E, 

